It was a bit confusing, as there were multiple birds around, however, I'll
try to clarify, and send this over the obol list so others don't also send
private messages.
On the pond to the east of the highway there were easily identifiable
herons and egrets, including a snowy egret. However, in the tiny pond
inside of the horsehoe driveway just west of the highway there were two
smaller white egret/herons that at least for several days were keeping
unhappy company with each other, and not mixing with the larger group (at
least, this is how it was for the first couple days, including when I saw
them the day after the original report).
Plumage was nearly identical, white with grey tips to the primaries and
some secondaries (although in Matt's most recent photo, it appears this was
stronger on the smaller bird, which is even more confusing). Between the
two birds, one was smaller, with a shorter neck, and shorter, more orange
bill. This was originally identified as the Cattle Egret. The other was,
obviously, larger, longer-necked and beaked, and the beak was more of a
light pink color. This was originally identified as the Little Blue Heron.
Originally the ID in question was about the LBHE, but it seems most are now
satisfied that the larger bird is LBHE but now the ID of the smaller bird
has been more in question. Hybrids have been suggested for both.
Hope that explains it, I'm guessing some out there might have differing
opinions or recollections.
Brodie
On Thu, Sep 14, 2017 at 4:30 PM, Roy Gerig <roygerig@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I just now looked at the latest photos, In Rick Vetter's photos on obol
that I just now saw - There is a Cattle Egret and an ambiguous Snowy or
Little Blue, not all three.
I am new to this discussion and haven't been there to see the birds. The
few photos I'd seen before all showed 2 Herons. They showed nothing
resembling Cattle Egret, but did show 2 birds could be Snowy or Little
Blue. Discussion though included Calttle Egret as if it was in the photo.
There must be three birds overall, yet most of the discussion and photos
I've seen is only on two of them..could be this is why I 'm confused about
their discerned ID. Some of you may yawn or say what's new when I admit I
am confused on this discussion, but you don't have to say so
I drove up hwy 22 to Hoodoo or Big Lake today, couldn't get in to much of
that area from fire camps but smoke was not bad anywhere today. Didn't see
many birds either, lots of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, JUNCOS, ROBINS,
STELLER'S JAYS, a few LINCOLN'S, FOX, GC SPARROWS, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, RB
NUTHATCH (alt-pronunciation: Nuth-hatch) and HOUSE WREN and not much else
at all
Roy Gerig Salem OR
